Rockets' Ime Udoka Responsible For Failed Reunion With James Harden?

The Houston Rockets were all for a reunion with James Harden, but did the hiring of coach Ime Udoka interfere with the plan?

HOUSTON — James Harden's potential return to the Houston Rockets appeared inevitable nearly eight months ago. ESPN was the first to report Harden's interest in the Rockets in December. And in the events since Christmas Day, Adrian Wojnarowski's report stayed at the forefront of the rumor mill.  

A reunion between the Rockets and Harden made sense at the time, given that Houston wanted a veteran talent at the guard position, while the league's former MVP wanted to go to a place he considered "home."

But Harden's reconciliation with the Rockets took an unexpected turn. A day before free agency, he opted into his $35.6 million deal for the 2023-24 season. And instead of hitting the open market on July 1, Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers had agreed to work on a trade to move forward with his pending jettison.

The Los Angeles Clippers are the frontrunner to land the 10-time All-Star. The Rockets, they pivoted to free agency point guard Fred VanVleet — who they inked to a three-year deal worth $130 million.

A source told Inside the Rockets that the Rockets and Harden had "interest" in a homecoming this summer. But plans shifted once Ime Udoka took over as coach. The information coincided with the Athletic's report that Houston decided to "pass on another Harden chapter." 

Udoka was an assistant coach under Steve Nash during Harden's first season with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2020-21 campaign. 

The 76ers went 54-28 during the regular season but lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Harden led the NBA in assists after averaging 10.7 dimes and scoring 21.0 points across 58 games.

Following Philadelphia's elimination, Harden expressed his desire to win his first championship title while playing his style of basketball. But Udoka wanted to add veterans who will enhance Houston's subpar roster as the franchise enters phase II of its rebuild. 

Harden played for the Rockets for nine seasons. He averaged 29.6 points, 7.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 621 games. He won his lone MVP award in 2018 after leading the Rockets to a 65-17 record.

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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